It was time for breakfast, and as much as I wanted to stay in bed, I knew attending was mandatory.
So, to put on an appearance, I asked Nora and Lolita to help me dress in one of my best outfits—a black embroidered fitted gown. My dyed-blonde hair was pulled into a neat bun so my earrings and the accessories around my neck would be clearly visible.
Once dressed, I took a deep breath and headed out with them.
The walk to the dining hall felt long, although it really wasn't. Every step was heavy, as if the walls whispered memories of all I had endured within them. But I kept my chin up.
The guards bowed respectfully as we approached. I ignored them and walked in.
As expected, the triplets were already seated.
The moment I entered, all three of them turned to look at me.
Silence fell across the room.
I kept my face blank, refusing to show any emotion. Not anger. Not pain. Nothing. They didn't deserve to know what I felt.
"Good morning," Alpha Lennox said first.
I gave a slight nod. "Morning."
Alpha Levi and Alpha Louis watched me, their eyes searching for any sign of softness. But I shot them a glare and looked away.
I walked to the far end of the table and sat down.
Lady Fiona was already seated too, and when our eyes met, she quickly looked away.
Servants began placing plates in front of us, filling the table with food I had no appetite for.
Just then, Alpha Damien made his way to the table and sat right beside me. I felt awkward and swallowed hard, but he remained calm. Unexpectedly, he leaned into the crook of my neck and inhaled deeply, then groaned.
"Fuck! You smell so good." The source of this content ɪs novel⁂fire.net
My lips parted in shock as I turned to give him a look, but he only smirked and focused on the plate before him. Feeling piercing gazes on me, I looked around the table—and the first pair of eyes I met were Levi's. His cool, sea-blue gaze was locked on mine, sharp and full of anger. But there was a flicker of something else—jealousy? Regret? I couldn't tell, and frankly, I didn't care. I knew Lennox and Louis were watching too, but I didn't care.
I looked away and picked up my fork, ignoring the fury and tension now settling across the table like a heavy storm cloud. I hadn't asked for this drama, and I wasn't going to feed into it.
But of course, Alpha Damien wasn't done.
Damien picked up a sausage from his plate and turned to me with a smirk.
"Here," he said softly, holding it out like he was about to feed me. "Just one bite."
He moved it towards my mouth like it was some kind of romantic gesture.
Before I could say no or react, a low, angry growl cut through the air—it was Levi's.
"She doesn't eat that," he snapped, his angry voice echoing in the hall. "If you're trying to act romantic to your own nephew's wife, maybe learn something about her first."
The table went quiet. Dead quiet.
Damien raised an eyebrow and slowly pulled the sausage back. "You're right," he said lightly. "After all, she will be having my child soon. I need to know things about her."
Those words enraged Levi even more. He was staring straight at Damien, his eyes full of fury. His jaw was clenched so tightly, it looked like he was holding back from shifting into his wolf.
I sat there frozen, feeling like I had suddenly become the prize in a fight I didn't ask to be part of.
Damien, clearly not satisfied with the chaos he was causing, scooped up a spoonful of mashed cheese from his plate and turned to me again with a teasing smile.
"I believe you eat this," he said softly.
Then, as if we were alone in the room, he raised the spoon towards my lips.
I blinked, confused for a moment. Was he really trying to feed me? To cause more chaos.
Before I could react or say a word, the sound of a loud bang echoed across the hall.
Lennox had slammed his fist against the table, making plates rattle and cutlery jump.
"Enough!" he barked, his voice sharp and laced with rage. His eyes were blazing, locked not on me—but on Damien.
Everyone froze. Even the servants halted mid-step.
Louis clenched his jaw but said nothing. Levi's eyes never left me.
Sir Damon, who had been silent all this while, slowly stood up from his end of the table. He didn't yell or slam the table like his son.
Instead, his voice came out calm. "Alpha Lennox, sit down."
Lennox's chest heaved. His fists were still clenched, but he obeyed, dragging his chair back roughly before sinking into it.
"This will be settled in the council," Sir Damon said, his voice loud enough for all of us to hear. "Not here. Not now."
I glanced between them, my confusion growing. Settled in the council? What was being settled? What did this have to do with me?
I turned slightly towards Damien, who noticed the confused look on my face.
His smirk faded a bit, replaced by a calmer expression as he leaned towards me again. His voice was low, meant for me alone. "They didn't tell you, huh?"
I shook my head. "Tell me what?"
Damien's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked towards the triplets, then back at me. "In a week, the council is meeting to decide your fate… and mine."
Alpha Damien shrugged. "The triplets have reported me to the council. From what I gathered, they accused me of wanting to snatch their mate and wife, so the first hearing is next Monday," he explained.
I swallowed hard, picked up a glass of juice, and gulped it down.
"Easy, before you choke on it," Alpha Damien said—not in a teasing tone, but in a concerned way.
I set the glass down and darted my eyes toward the triplets, who were now glaring daggers at Damien.
I looked back at Damien. "So?"
He smiled and leaned closer to my ear… his hot breath fanning my skin.
"We'll talk about this later," he whispered in a deep, husky voice, then pulled away and returned to his food.
Alpha Damien ate casually, as though he hadn't just leaned into my neck like he owned me. As though he hadn't made a sound that sent shivers crawling down my spine—unwanted shivers.
I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to put some distance between us, but he only smirked like he knew the effect he was having on me.
Damn it. What's happening to me?
Get a hold of yourself, Olivia… this man is your husband's uncle. This is a game. Remember that. Remember!
I caught Lady Fiona watching me with curious eyes, as though trying to piece together what was going on between me and Damien.
Then my gaze flicked back to Levi—he was gripping his fork so tightly, his knuckles were white. His jaw was clenched, his gaze burning into Damien's side like he was seconds away from attacking him.
I reached for my water and sipped quietly, not bothering to eat. I had no appetite. Not for food. Not for small talk. And definitely not for more drama.
When I set the glass down, Damien suddenly stood.
"I have a few things to handle," he said, dusting crumbs off his lap. Then he leaned down again, so close his lips almost grazed my ear. "Try not to miss me too much."
And just like that, he walked off—completely ignoring the storm brewing around the table.
After he left, I took a deep breath and picked up my spoon, trying to eat. But I couldn't. My stomach felt sick.
Without saying a word, I pushed my chair back. The noise echoed in the quiet room.
"Excuse me," I said softly, still avoiding everyone's gaze. I stood up and walked out.
I could feel their eyes on me, but I didn't care. I just kept walking.
My steps took me to the garden. I needed air. I needed space to think. To breathe.
The moment I stepped outside, the cool air brushed against my face. I breathed in the sweet scent of flowers and felt a little better. The birds were singing, and everything felt calm.
But suddenly, I felt a familiar pressure behind me, and even without turning around, I knew who it was.
With a frown, I turned fully to face him. "Are you following me?"